Huntsville to be home to Stateside student electric car racing

Huntsville students competed in the UK's Greenpower race last year. (Source: ETV)

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

The USA-based extension of an electric car racing competition for students will be headquartered in Huntsville, it was announced Tuesday.

Huntsville will become home of Greenpower USA, the first international spinoff of the Greenpower UK Education Trust, which was founded in 1999. It is described as an engaging and inspirational design-build-race competition for students.

The competition requires students, with help from teachers and industry mentors, to design, build and race electric cars. Teams are given identical motors, batteries, and a strict set of regulations with which to build their vehicles.

Students utilize science, math, technology and engineering skills to fabricate, test and then race their vehicles.

Last year, high schoolers from Huntsville City Schools became the first US team to compete in the UK's Greenpower race. Team USA, as they were known, won honors as Best Newcomer and the Siemens Innovator Award. The team will race again this fall in Chichester, West Sussex UK.

Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski will coordinate the launch of the Greenpower Challenge in the United States with the completion of regulation compliant race tracks at three schools in Huntsville.

"As an engineering community, we are enormously proud of the high level of talent and ingenuity among our students," said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. "We are proud to have Huntsville host Greenpower USA and look forward to engaging students from across the world here in the Rocket City."

Three adult males and one juvenile were arrested in Limestone County on Thursday after a four-hour manhunt and charged with multiple counts stemming from a string of vehicle thefts.

A ground search ensued that lasted about four hours and covered approximately six miles, ending a few hundred yards east of Hays Mill Road where the suspects were caught in a hunting stand/shoot house.

A ground search ensued that lasted about four hours and covered approximately six miles, ending a few hundred yards east of Hays Mill Road where the suspects were caught in a hunting stand/shoot house.

A nonstop route to Orlando is coming soon to Huntsville International Airport. Silver Airways, an airline based out of Fort Lauderdale, will start the new route on May 23, 2018. The airline made the announcement on Tuesday. Silver plans to fly its new ATR-600 aircraft to complete the 600 mile trip. The ATR-600 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that can seat up to 70 people on some models. Silver Airways says its model will feature leather seating, increased leg room and sp...

A nonstop route to Orlando is coming soon to Huntsville International Airport. Silver Airways, an airline based out of Fort Lauderdale, will start the new route on May 23, 2018. The airline made the announcement on Tuesday. Silver plans to fly its new ATR-600 aircraft to complete the 600 mile trip. The ATR-600 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that can seat up to 70 people on some models. Silver Airways says its model will feature leather seating, increased leg room and sp...